We look at the diverse offerings of a few of our local schools and how they commit to shaping and enhancing the talents, skills and characters of their pupils.
TREVERTON COLLEGE
Celebrating 60 Years of Educational Excellence
An independent, Christian, co-ed day and boarding school, Treverton College is nestled in the KZN Midlands, providing top-tier education to learners aged three to 18. Founded on strong Christian values, they see the individual as part of the whole, ensuring a distinct approach to education. They see every challenge as an adventure and an opportunity to learn, grow and overcome. Treverton’s 270 square-hectare campus is utilised for learning, whether indoors in the classroom or outdoors on the sports field.
PIETERMARITZBURG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL
Achieving in All Endeavours
From Grade 8 to 12, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School offers a dynamic learning environment in which girls can thrive. Their highly qualified and dedicated educators guide their learners in maintaining a balance between their academic, sporting and cultural endeavours, setting them apart. They have a long-standing record of academic excellence as well as innovative academic facilities. If your child is more artistic, their art rooms, sculpture studio, drama practical room and music suite will allow them to nurture their talents. GHS is apart. They have a long-standing record of academic excellence as well as innovative academic facilities. If your child is more artistic, their art rooms, sculpture studio, drama practical room and music suite will allow them to nurture their talents. GHS is also sports-focused, offering 18 sporting codes and excellent facilities.
The Boarding Establishment (BE) provides a home-away-from-home where learners thrive under the supervision of Housemothers and Boarder Mistresses.
EPWORTH SCHOOL
Quality Learning in a Picturesque Setting
Located in Pietermaritzburg, Epworth is proud of its 125-year history of providing holistic education to boys and girls from Grades RRR to 7 in their preparatory school and to girls (boarders and day scholars) from Grades 8 to 12 in their high school. They firmly believe in co-education for younger pupils and are passionate about the benefits, particularly to girls, of single-sex education in high school.
The school is firmly guided by their motto of “Fida Humana Fortis” (Faith Compassion Courage) and their moral compass is set by the spiritual qualities embedded in its Christian faith. Authenticity is central to all their pursuits, and they strive to promote an ethos of “true to who we are”. Epworth encourages a journey of discovery centred on personal excellence, whether it be in the classroom, on the stage, or out on the sports field. They are particularly proud of their distinctly picturesque, 15-hectare park-like campus with its unique, Art Deco-inspired architecture that is surrounded by expansive lawns and large trees. Their top-class facilities reflect their investment in and commitment to education excellence.
In their preparatory school, Epworth aims to create a nurturing atmosphere that encourages learning through positive affirmation. In the elementary grades, pupils learn through play and self-discovery, while in the higher grades, they promote critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving. The high school is a leader in innovative teaching methodologies and their academic programme comprises an extensive range of subjects accommodating pupils with wide-ranging abilities and interests.
RIVERWOOD COLLEGE
One-of-a-Kind Schooling
The new kid on the block in the Midlands educational arena, Riverwood College is an interesting school with much to offer. What makes this school so distinct is that it is the only fully combined, coeducational and parallel-medium school in the Midlands. What this means is that it offers schooling from Grade RRR to Grade 12 to boys and girls, with English or Afrikaans as the language of teaching and learning. Boarding is also offered from Grades 8 to 12.
The school has the benefit of city access as well as a lush, park-like campus where learners can take part in a vast range of co-curricular activities to complement a relevant and differential academic programme. The junior phase of the school offers a child-centred curriculum, whilst the senior school has a subject selection geared to prepare their learners for life after school. These factors, together with affordable fees, make Riverwood College an incredible choice for families seeking a good education for their children.
CARLYLE COLLEGE
Passionate About Education
An independent, co-educational school, Carlyle College is situated on a magnificent and historic campus in Nottingham Road. The school’s vision is to provide a nurturing, creative and inspiring learning environment for students to become leaders, lifelong learners and responsible citizens, ready to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
In partnership with families and the community, the school creates relevant and real-world learning opportunities for students, both inside and outside the classroom, cultivating their individual academic and extra-curricular passions and developing the knowledge, critical thinking skills and character necessary for them to thrive. This can be summed up by the school motto: “Where Passion Meets Purpose”.
The school currently comprises a preschool called Little Chameleons for children from two years old to Grade R, and a prep school from Grades 1 to 6. The middle school offering is from Grades 7 to 9, followed by the college which will be Grades 10 to 12. With the school in its second year of operation, the highest grade offered is Grade 8, which will lead the way and become the first matric class in 2028. Carlyle College follows the South African CAPS curriculum and the school is working towards writing their matric examinations through the IEB.
At Carlyle College, it is a strongly held belief that instilling a lifelong love of physical activity and sports is imperative. Numerous school sports are offered during the year and a variety of extra-curricular activities are also available through community partners. As a growing school, creativity is required when making up teams and organising fixtures, however, this will evolve and be led by the interests and passions of the students. School sport is generally played during the week with weekends reserved for individual interests and family time.
Whilst the school was officially opened on 17 January 2023, the campus enjoys a rich heritage of education going back to 1908 when St Winifred’s School for Girls was opened. This was followed by Chippenham Boys School, open between 1920 and 1922, and King’s School from 1922 until its closure in 2019. In 2022, the campus was taken over by a new family enterprise with a desire to offer an innovative and inspiring learning environment for the growing community. The result was Carlyle College, named after the Carlyle-Mitchell family who were the custodians of King’s School and the campus for almost 80 years.
ST JOHN’S DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Her Heart Sets Her Apart
An independent day and boarding school in Pietermaritzburg, St John’s D.S.G provides education for girls from Grade RR to Grade 12. Their difference is all about heart – it is a school that inspires each girl to reach her own potential. They do this by providing an enriching, balanced education, anchored in God, that empowers girls to flourish.
Their safe, nurturing environment gives them the love and encouragement they need to become resilient and emotionally intelligent women. The value system of love and discipline, established through over 126 proud years of education and based on Christian principles, forms the cornerstone of the school.
What is the special ingredient that makes St John’s D.S.G. so unique? The truth is that there is no single factor that differentiates the school, but rather a number of reasons which together combine to produce a special blend of individual success within this unified community – of excellence without arrogance or fear of criticism, of humility and service as keys to thriving rather than timidity, and an environment in which mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth.